Android Low Memory Killer Daemon

Introduction

Android Low Memory Killer Daemon (lmkd) is a process monitoring memory state of a running Android system and reacting to high memory pressure by killing the least essential process(es) to keep system performing at acceptable levels.

Background

Historically on Android systems memory monitoring and killing of non-essential processes was handled by a kernel lowmemorykiller driver. Since Linux Kernel 4.12 the lowmemorykiller driver has been removed and instead userspace lmkd daemon performs these tasks.

Android Properties

lmkd can be configured on a particular system using the following Android properties: